Beaulieu-Sur-Mer Visitor Guide: The Real French Riviera

I’ve been living in and traveling around the French Riviera all summer, and I’ve seen how every different town and village tries to maintain the essence of the French Riviera charm. Mostly this is done in a way that caters to tourists, but it also allows space for the preservation of the old town and the old ways of the Riviera. So sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Beaulieu-Sur-Mer is different though, because it’s the real French Riviera. It hasn’t catered to the evolving demands of the tourist market and it hasn’t tried to keep up the popularity and trends of the bigger destinations on the Riviera. Beaulieu-Sur-Mer is a small village, with a couple of small ports and uncrowded beaches, no old town, and no over-the-top frills. This town is simply lived in, it’s where the French live and vacation. It’s not the vintage postcard image of the Riviera in it’s Golden Age, but it’s authentic and that’s not easy to find. If you come to visit, you’ll have a nice quiet holiday at the beach, with beautiful views and uncomplicated French seaside living. Here are my recommendations, your Beaulieu-Sur-Mer Visitor Guide.

Beaulieu-Sur-Mer Visitor Guide

When To Go

When you go is determined by what you’re looking for. The town never gets crowded, so anytime is good. Come in the summer if you want a beach holiday, though the mild microclimate in this bay makes it perfect weather so you won’t melt in the Mediterranean sun. Come in the spring or fall if you want a relaxed stay by the sea without risk of sunburn, and come in winter if you want a quiet escape from the craziness of daily life. Beaulieu-Sur-Mer is a lovely respite no matter when you come to visit!

How To Get There

Fly into Nice Airport and take the SNCF train to the Beaulieu-Sur-Mer train station. From there you need only walk a few minutes until you’re at the port or the beach!

Where to Stay

One thing’s for sure, you don’t want to stay far from the coast. The beautiful coast is Beaulieu-Sur-Mer’s greatest asset and there isn’t much of interest further inland. There is still some of the classic old belle époque architecture to be seen around town, and a stay at Hotel Royal-Riviera is just the most divine way to experience it! Right on the bay and next to the beach, it’s the perfect hotel to enjoy a relaxing stay in Beaulieu.

What to Do

A stay in Beaulieu is low-key, so you should start off with some relaxing on the beach of course! There are two beaches in town, Plage des Fourmis is mostly public with some private seating and is closer to Cap Ferrat, and Plage Petite Afrique is more spacious with only one private section and a beach volleyball net in the public section. You can take a walk around the harbors to admire the yachts and boats that have stopped in. Visit the Villa Kérylos, the main attraction in town, which is a re-creation of a luxurious Greek villa, commissioned by archaeologist Théodore Reinach. On Saturday and Sunday mornings you can join in on the fun at the farmers market in Place Maninoni. And enjoy the scenic walkway, the Promenade Maurice Rouvier, which leads to St Jean Cap Ferrat and has a number of rock outcroppings where you can hang out for a swim in the irresistibly blue waters!

Where to Eat

Probably one of the most famous spots to eat in Beaulieu is the African Queen where you can enjoy a truffle pizza while dining portside. Just be sure to bring a friend to share it with, as it costs a whopping €36! I would also recommend La Catalan, which is popular with the locals. If you’re in the mood for something special, head over to Le Berlugan for great food with great views, or Jasmin Grill and Lounge, which has the best lunchtime views overlooking the Plage des Fourmis.

Need to Know

Beaulieu-Sur-Mer is a small quiet town, with perfect weather in its mild microclimate, a hint of history with its belle époque architecture, and ritzy towns like Cap Ferrat and Monaco a stone’s throw away. Come to Beaulieu for a quiet escape. Here it’s safe, English is widely spoken, it’s easy to get to and navigate, and atm’s are available as needed. You won’t have much to worry about here!

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